Valorization of waste LCD and recovery of critical raw material for circular economy: A review

Abstract

Waste an E-waste is a global environmental issue but potential resources for Indium through urban mining and recycling, which a critical raw material for the industry has been reviewed. In the e-waste, the computer followed by spent television scarp is the second highest by volume generation invariably contains the LCD panel. Indium-tin-oxide (ITO) layer in the LCD panel is an important resource for indium which has 90 wt% In2O3 and 10 wt% SnO2 is a potential resource for indium has been focused in the discussion. Challenges and opportunities associated with LCD recycling and indium recovery have been critically reviewed. Indium a critical metal; scarce in primary sources but abundant in e-waste, critical in supply chain but crucial to green energy, lacking in recycling rate but progressive EOL waste generation, poses a threat to ecosystem/habitat but potential to circularize the economy, primarily as a by-product but potential urban mine, both a challenge and an opportunity, concurrently. Cost effective industrial process development is essential for a circular economy and urban mining notion, which can address the challenge associated with environment and energy and create the opportunity for circularizing the metal economy.